Chapter 15
“Yes, the whole restaurant is booked today. Even if you had a reservation, it’s been canceled, the waiter said politely. “Mr. Buckley, you can check the restaurant’s VIP rules. They state that all reservations will be canceled for important guests, and the full amount will be refunded. I know it seems unfair, but that’s the policy. Thank you for understanding.”
It might seem unreasonable, but that was the reality. Anyone who had been to DKing Restaurant knew this rule. Many people were unhappy about it, but the high-quality food and service only made the place feel more exclusive, attracting even more guests.
There were rumors that the restaurant’s manager was a big shot in Jonton, someone ordinary people shouldn’t mess with- otherwise, how could they enforce such a policy?
Of course, these were just rumors. No “important guests’ had ever shown up before, and orders were rarely canceled, so most people just thought it was a marketing trick. But today, they learned the hard way that it was real.
Kenneth was feeling the pressure. “Can’t we make an exception? I’ve booked the whole place, and we’re already here!”
The waiter kept his warm smile. “I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. If you’re not happy, the restaurant will provide compensation later.” In short, they weren’t getting in.
Grinding his teeth, Kenneth pointed a finger at Tobias and lowered his voice to threaten. “You better remember who this is. This is Mr. Reese! You really think you can turn him away? Don’t you worry about your restaurant going out of business?”
The waiter remained unfazed, still smiling brightly.
Tobias looked at the restaurant, not particularly eager to go in, but he found the rule interesting. That “important guest” was quite the mystery
Just then, a sweet young voice rang out in the restaurant. “Uncle! Long time no see!” A little girl in shiny shoes ran forward, her small arms hugging Tobias’s leg playfully. “Did you miss me?
Tobias looked down at the adorable girl.
Before he could answer, the waiter instantly shifted to a defensive stance, watching Tobias and his group carefully. But as soon as he looked at Yara, his expression softened. “Yara, you can’t run around like that. Come back here.” she urged, her tone completely different.
Kenneth was taken aback. “Whose daughter is this? I’ve never seen her before. Is she the manager’s daughter?” He was shocked; the girl looked completely unfamiliar to him.
The waiter nodded quickly, trying to escort Yara away. But the little girl clung tight to Tobias’s leg. refusing to budge. “No! I finally get to see my handsome uncle! I don’t want to leave! Uncle, can you come with me?”
Tobias wasn’t really interested at first, but there was something about her big, beautiful eyes that made him surprisingly patient “Okay”
Yara’s face lit up with a bright smile. She was utterly radiant.
As she beamed up at him, Tobias couldn’t help but wonder about her family.
“But we still can’t get in…” Kenneth murmured weakly. Inside, he thought, ‘Doesn’t Mr. Reese see that this restaurant is clearly closed to guests today? Offending me might not matter much, but disrespecting Tobias could ruin our chances of working together!
Before Kenneth could express his worries, the waiter said, politely but firmly, “Yara, you can’t do t Yara puffed out her cheeks. But I want to be with him! I promised him I would!”
This. The was at a loss.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
Tobias glanced at the waiter, his tone cool and steady. “I want this restaurant,” he said plainly, his voice calm and hard to ignore. He had every right to say it.
The waiter smirked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, “Mr. Reese, this restaurant isn’t just yours to claim.”
Tobias’s expression turned serious, a cold light in his eyes. Powerful people always noticed when their authority was challenged, and he felt a rush of determination. “Where’s the manager? Bring her out,”
Kenneth timidly spoke up, “Mr. Reese, why not just let this go? Its just dinner.
“I want to see who can turn me away.” Tobias replied. He had never faced rejection before, and today wouldn’t be any different.
Yara blinked her big eyes, confused yet excited. “Is it time to see Mommy? I’ll go get her! Let her meet you!” With that, she dashed inside the restaurant.
Inside. Natalie was enjoying a cup of coffee. The restaurant’s design fit her tastes perfectly, letting her reflect on things. Six years ago, before her divorce, she often came here when she was feeling down. It was her rule to avoid any interruptions.
“Mommy! Handsome Uncle is waiting outside! He wants to see you!” Yara rushed over, excitement lighting up her little face. Natalie, however, was less interested, “Oh.
Yara leaned over the table, her curious little head peeking up as she blinked her big eyes. “Mom! It’s that handsome uncle you met last time!”
“Oh, Natalie replied, only half paying attention.
Honestly, Yara had met a bunch of “handsome uncles” over the years, and most of them were overseas. A few had come back home, but it was no big deal.
Natalie felt lazy, while Yara bounced with excitement. “What if I go get him to come over?”
“Do whatever you want, just don’t bring him over to bug me, Natalie said casually. As long as it wasn’t Tobias, she didn’t mind. Just thinking about him complicated things. If he found out she had a child… well, that could lead to all sorts of headaches
Natalie liked to think she knew Tobias well enough. If he found out she had a kid, he would probably dig into who the father was. After all, Yara and Tobias’s son were close in age. It couldn’t be a coincidence, and she doubted Tobias would care about some child.
While she thought about this, she spotted a figure in the distance. The moment she recognized him, she froze and quickly ducked under the table. She exclaimed in her heart, “Why do my fears always come true?
“Hey? Where’s my mom? She was just here,” Yara’s confused voice rang out from above.
Natalie winced, regretting her earlier decision to let Yara approach him. But it was too late now.
Luckily, the tablecloth was long enough to cover her somewhat. The sound of footsteps got closer, and she spotted shiny shoes that she immediately recognized as Tobias’s favorite brand. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Uncle, that’s weird! Where did my mom go all of a sudden?” Yara chirped.
Tobias looked down at the table, noticing the snacks and half-finished coffee. “She might have stepped away for a moment,” he replied calmly.
Yara nodded seriously. 41 gp find her!”
“No need,” he said, glancing back. “I have some things to take care of Kenneth and the others were waiting a little further away: their project wasn’t finished yet.
Natalie let out a sigh of relief when she heard that. Next time, she’d definitely ask Yara what she meant. Just then, the footsteps began to fade, and she was about to crawl out from under the table when suddenly, the tablecloth was lifted, and she found herself staring straight into Tobias’s piercing eyes. “Natalie?” he called out.